Ken Giles is the Phillies new closer. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
TORONTO — With Jonathan Papelbon finally getting his wish and moving out of Philadelphia, the Phillies handed the closer role to Ken Giles.
The 24-year-old right-hander was up to the task Tuesday, retiring three batters after allowing a leadoff single in the ninth. He closed out a 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays to pick up his first save of the season and the second of his career. He had one save last season.
Papelbon was traded to the Washington Nationals for right-hander Nick Pivetta, who was pitching in Double-A.
Giles will have to be good to replace Papelbon, who was 17-for-17 in save chances with a 1.59 ERA in 37 outings this season.
“We didn’t want to just get rid of him,” Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “He had an extraordinary career with us. The fact of the matter is, he was as good as advertised and maybe better. We just didn’t play very well around him. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the kind of club that was the reason for him to be here.”
Giles, on the other hand, is just happy to get his chance.
“Being the closer feels great,” he said. “It was once-in-a-lifetime dream for me to become a closer. Now it’s my opportunity to show what I’ve got. I started to get a little nervous because the first one is always the hardest.”
Interim manager Pete Mackanin said, “He’s the appropriate guy to give an opportunity to and let him run with it. I think he’s capable of doing it. It was nice for him to get that save, especially under the circumstances with Pap gone. He knew it. In the back of his mind, I guarantee he was thinking about it the whole game.”
As for Papelbon, Mackanin said. “You hate to lose a guy who’s been that effective as a closer. It’s just one of those things. He’s been steady for us in the years I’ve been here. You hate losing a guy like that, but we feel that Giles is capable of taking over. We’ll see.”
Giles learned from Papelbon since joining the Phillies last year.
“I can’t thank him enough for guiding me through the way of the closer,” Giles said. “I think I’m going to be a great closer. I know (Papelbon) wanted to be traded, and I knew it was only a matter of time where it got to the point of when he felt like he was satisfied with where he wanted to go. I wish him all the best of luck. Hopefully, we’ll cross paths once again. He’s had a lot of great success, and I think he’s going to do even greater things in the future.”
The Phillies hope the same for their new closer.
